SIX

"No," said Piper suddenly, standing to her feet. "You're lying. I don't believe you. I won't believe you. Wyatt could never become that monster that just attacked us I don't care what you say."

"Piper, " began Chris.

"Shut up," Piper nearly screamed. "Just shut up. This is just another of you lies to throw us off. He nearly killed Leo and you just stood by and let him. You didn't do a thing to try to stop him."

"I couldn't," protested Chris. "He was always much more powerful than I was. Even if I had tried, it wouldn't have made any difference. Do you think I would have come all the way back here if I could have faced him in the future? My only hope, the only hope for all humanity, was for me to come back and try to change things."

"He was incredibly powerful," interjected Kiethran. "I could sense it. I've rarely sensed anything that powerful."

"And yet he ran from you," insisted Piper. "And you at least tried to do something."

"Only because I had this," said Kiethran, holding up the sword he had brought with him. "Wyatt, or whoever that was, must have sensed it wouldn't do any good to attack me while I had it."

"A sword?" asked Piper sarcastically. "With his powers a sword wouldn't have been any concern for him."

"It's not just any sword," said Kiethran. "This weapon is probably...."

"I don't care what it is," interrupted Piper. "I'm tired of being lied to. Of being played the fool." She turned to Chris. "I'm going to go put on some coffee. When I get back you're going to tell me the real truth."

Without another word she stormed out of the living room into the kitchen. Chris started to go after her but Leo stopped him.

"Let her go," said Leo. "It's a lot for her to take in right now. She's lost her mother, her grandmother, and Prue. And now you tell her that her only son is going to become a powerful evil. She needs some time to sort this out."

"I know, said Chris dejectedly. "I was afraid she wouldn't believe me. That's why I didn't say anything before. And he's not her only son. So am I."

"So it would seem," said Phoebe. "I guess that makes Paige and I aunts again."

"Then you believe me?" Chris asked.

"I don't know," said Leo. "It's hard to accept something like that. That my own son would try to kill me. I can't believe he'd harbor a grudge because I wouldn't let him use his powers."

"It wasn't him," said Chris. "It's the demonic essence inside him. It changed him. He's not her son any longer."

"Kiethran," said Phoebe, "what's so special about that sword? It looks like any other sword to me."

"Looks can be deceiving," said Leo, "if that's what I think it is."

"It is," said Kiethran. "This is probably the most powerful weapon on Earth. As long as I hold it, no power can harm me."

"I'll bet there are more than a few demons who'd like to get their hands on that," said Paige.

"In a manner of speaking," said Kiethran. "Even the mere touch is enough to totally vanquish any demon. If that really was Wyatt, it wouldn't have harmed him. But he must have sensed its power so he knew he couldn't stand against me as long as I was holding it.

"Leo, I'd like to stay and help you sort things out here but I think I should be going. If what Chris says is true, Wyatt may become a concern for everyone, not just witches or the Elders. I need to let the Druid Council know what's going on so they can make some preparations."

"That's a good idea," said Chris. "Before Wyatt attacked without warning. Not even the Druids could stand up against him. At least this way they'll be forewarned. That might help make a difference."

"Go on, Kiethran," said Leo. "I'm not sure what you can do here anyway. Until Piper calms down all we can do is wait."

Kiethran just smiled, and then vanished from the manor, sword in hand.

"What do we do now?" Paige asked.

"I need to talk to Piper," said Chris. "I need to make her understand that what I've told her is the truth."

"Is it?" asked Piper from the living room doorway. "You've lied to us before. You've tried to coerce us into doing what you wanted us to do. How do we know this isn't more of the same? That this isn't part of one of your elaborate schemes?"

"Because it's the truth," said Chris. "Piper, I know how you feel. Remember, Wyatt is my brother. I've had to watch him change for over twenty years. What reason would I have for lying about something like this?"

"I don't know," said Piper. "But your account of trust is severely overdrawn right now." She looked over at Wyatt playing in his playpen. "It's hard to imagine that he'll grow up to be the man that as here just a bit ago."

"I know," said Chris. "I didn't even believe it myself at first. He started with just demons. I thought he was doing good. By the time I realized what he was really after it was too late. He was too powerful for me to oppose him."

"And what was he after?" asked Leo.

"Power," said Chris. "You heard him. It's not about good or evil. It's about power. Nothing else matters to him. Just the power. Good and evil are just unimportant trappings."

"Is that why he killed us?" asked Phoebe. "To get our power?"

"No," said Chris. "He killed you to stop you from opposing him. Just like he killed the others."

"What others?" Paige asked.

"There were a few others that he considered direct threats to him," said Chris. "Kiethran and the Druids were some. There was also a vampire that lives in Los Angeles. I don't know why he thought a vampire would be a threat to him. But he did. So he vanquished the vampire to prevent it from opposing him.

"There was also the Slayer. Normally a Slayer would have been no threat to Wyatt. But this one was different. She had just vanquished one of the most powerful evils in history. Like you she was moving toward a new destiny. He considered her a threat as well. So he killed her."

"The Slayer and a vampire?" Phoebe asked. "How could they be a threat to someone with his power?"

"I don't know," said Chris. "I know it wasn't an ordinary vampire. This one had a soul."

"He's talking about Angel," Piper said.

"You know him?" Chris asked.

"In a manner of speaking," said Piper. "I meant him once in an alternate universe. But from what I understand, he also exists here. He lives in Los Angeles and protects the innocents there."

"Well," said Chris, "there was something about an amulet this vampire apparently had. I think it was the amulet Wyatt was afraid of. Before I could figure out what was going on Wyatt had vanquished both the vampire and the Slayer."

"So, where has this Wyatt gone now?" asked Piper. "He orbed out of here he must have gone somewhere."

"I don't know," said Chris. "He could be just about anywhere. From a very early age he had the ability to mask himself so no one could detect him."

"But he'll be back," said Paige. "Wherever he's gone he'll come back. He wants to kill you and I don't think he'll give up easily."

"Not right away," said Chris. "He'll gauge his options. He was planning to take me by surprise. There's no chance of that happening now. So he'll have to plan a different strategy. Especially since you know about him. With your power you're a threat to him. He'll need to plan carefully because of that."

"Well, with that little freezing trick of his we're vulnerable," said Phoebe. "I never realized what an advantage that gives us over demons."

"I can help with that," said Chris. "There's a potion I stumbled across a few years back. Or a few years from now. Or whatever. Anyway, It will take a while to prepare but it will make you immune to his freezing power for a few weeks."

"Okay, we'll get started on the potion in a bit," said Piper. "First, "let's go over this again. Everything from the beginning. And don't leave anything out. Let's see if you can convince us that this is my grownup son that I may have to vanquish."

Chris just looked at Piper not knowing how he was going to convince her he was telling her the truth.

The End

(Be sure to look for the sequel to this story "A New Destiny", a Charmed/Buffy The Vampire Slayer crossover story coming soon that will continue the saga.)

If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my website, www.geocities.com/killeenmale/. You can also post your own "Charmed" stories if you like to write fan fiction.